SACRAMENTO – On Saturday Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation declaring Sunday, Feb. 6, as “Ronald Reagan Centennial Day” in the state of California.
Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the nation's 40th president, born in 1911 in Tampico, Illinois, to a family “of modest means,” Brown's proclamation notes.
Reagan “served his country with honor and distinction as the 33rd governor of California and as the 40th president of the United States of America,” according to Brown's weekend statement.
The proclamation continued, “Having risen from humble Midwestern beginnings to the towering heights of our democracy, Ronald Reagan embodied the American dream.
“As California’s governor, he worked with members of the Legislature from across the political spectrum to advance this state’s fiscal future, thereby elevating collaboration above ideology whenever the common good was at stake.
“As President of the United States, his enduring legacy is likewise defined by his eschewal of political dogmatism when confronted with the practical needs of the Nation. To that end, he took bold steps to reduce the threat of nuclear war and worked with members of Congress from both parties to enact pragmatic fiscal reforms.
“On February 6th, I ask that all Californians celebrate Ronald Reagan’s legacy on the centennial anniversary of his birth. His buoyant optimism and deep faith in America are as inspiring today as they were when he served the Nation as our President.”
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library in Simi Valley is planning a number of celebratory events, including a Sunday celebration that will includes a 21-gun salute, a F-18 flyover, keynote remarks by former Secretary of State James Baker and the official laying of the presidential wreath on President Reagan’s memorial site.
The event will be streamed live at www.reaganfoundation.org/live-webcasts.aspx.
The National Football League also is planning to honor Reagan Sunday during Super Bowl XLV.
To find out more about the Reagan Centennial, visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library online, www.reagancentennial.com/#/Home .
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